To Tonify vs Tonifying Infinitives & Gerunds

When and How to Use Each Expression?

Get a sense of when and how each expression can be used through the following examples!

To tonify (Infinitive)

Purpose or Intention: Use the infinitive "to tonify" when you want to express a purpose, intention, desire, or potential action

Example

I want to tonify my muscles to improve my strength.

Tonifying (Gerund)

Activity or Experience: Use the gerund "tonifying" when you want to refer to the activity itself or the experience as a noun.

Example

Tonifying your muscles can lead to improved athletic performance.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To tonify (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To tonify is an important part of any fitness routine.

  To tonify is an important part of any fitness routine.

  • "*To tonify*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (an important part of any fitness routine).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to tonify my abs.

  She wants me to tonify my abs.

  • "Me *to tonify* my abs" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to tonify* my abs).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a weightlifting routine to tonify my muscles.

  I need a weightlifting routine to tonify my muscles.

  • "*To tonify* my muscles" modifies the noun "weightlifting routine."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a weightlifting routine *to tonify* my muscles).

Tonifying (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Tonifying is essential for building lean muscle mass.

  Tonifying is essential for building lean muscle mass.

  • "*Tonifying*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (essential for building lean muscle mass).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy tonifying my body through weightlifting.

  I enjoy tonifying my body through weightlifting.

  • "*Tonifying* my body through weightlifting" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*tonifying* my body through weightlifting).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a passion for tonifying her muscles.

  She has a passion for tonifying her muscles.

  • "For *tonifying* her muscles" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a passion for *tonifying* her muscles).

Verbs Taking Infinitives/Gerunds as Objects

The following are verbs that can take only the base form of the verb (infinitive), only the -ing form (gerund), or both.

Verbs Taking Infinitives as Objects

• plan
• hope
• want
• decide
• agree

Example

She plans to tonify her body with regular exercise.

They hope to tonify their legs for better performance.

He wants to tonify his arms for increased strength.

We decided to tonify our core muscles through pilates.

They agreed to tonify their bodies with strength training.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys tonifying her muscles with resistance bands.

They recommend regular tonifying exercises for overall fitness.

I dislike the feeling of tonifying my muscles through intense workouts.

He avoids tonifying certain muscle groups to prevent injury.

Can you imagine yourself tonifying your entire body in just 30 minutes a day?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to tonify her body using yoga techniques. She likes tonifying her body using yoga techniques.

We started to tonify our muscles with regular exercise. We started tonifying our muscles with regular exercise.

He began to tonify his legs through cycling. He began tonifying his legs through cycling.